"The first time we sang together, I was shaking," Emerson admits, "But she's so nice and she's been so supportive. She gives great advice, and she's such a pro." Of course, one could argue the 8th grade student is also a pro, especially now that she shares the same grueling schedule (and substantial stage time) as her adult co-stars. "No, no," she says, playing with a strand of long brown hair that's been custom-dyed to match Foster's own. "Every night before I go onstage, I'm terrified. I'm bouncing off the walls and freaking out—what if I mess up? And they're like, Emerson, calm down. You do this show every day and nothing ever goes wrong." (Emerson does admit there's been one close call, when she was so entranced by a Harry Potter novel that she nearly missed her cue. "I have a rule now that I can't read them backstage.")

So how does one go from theater nerd to New York starlet without being a Glee character? According to Emerson, it happened the usual way—with passion and lots of hard work. "When I was really little, I played soccer but it did not go well," she groans. "Then I tried dance. I liked that better. Then I sang with my mom in church and I loved it. So I practiced a lot at home. I listened to so many records. I auditioned for local musicals, and I kept taking dance classes and voice classes. I tried out for everything I could, and eventually, I got some great parts at regional theaters," she says of playing, among others, Young Louise in the classic Gypsy.

Then Emerson heard about open auditions for the Broadway revival of Annie. "I got a bunch of call-backs, but in the end, they went with someone else," she sighs. "So when I heard about the Violet auditions, I actually didn't think I should go...I told my mom that since I'd already been rejected from Annie—and for some other shows, too!—that it wasn't a good idea. Why would this audition be any different? And my mom said, 'If you don't want to do the show, don't do it. But if you do and you're just afraid of being rejected, you'll never know unless you try! Go and do your best!'" Morals of the day: Believe in yourself...and listen to your mother? "And keep auditioning!" Emerson adds.

As she gathers up her leather moto jacket—procured from a vintage store back home—we ask what Emerson sees in her future. "Well, today I passed my final 8th grade math test," she answers with a triumphant smile, "and that feels like a big deal! Also, I'd love be in Thoroughly Modern Millie"—the play that made Sutton Foster famous—"and I want them to make Ferris Bueller's Day Off into a musical so I can play Sloan. Actually, my real dream role is Jean Valjean in Les Miserables, but that's a man's part so it may not be possible. Although," she says thoughtfully, "I didn't think getting this role would be possible either."

With that, Emerson joins her dad in the theater lobby and heads to her dressing room. She's on in just a few hours.